Marching orders on the right: Disrupt early and often

With thanks to Lee Fang at the Center for American Progress with followup from the the Web site Politico, a leaked memo exposes how some right-wing activists opposed to health care reform intend to treat lawmakers’ August town meetings: It urges protesters to be disruptive, “yell out,” “shout out” and artificially inflate their numbers.

Politico reported that Democratic members of Congress are being harassed by “angry sign-carrying mobs and disruptive behavior” at local town halls. Recently, right wing demonstrators hung Rep. Frank Kratovil, D-Maryland, in effigy outside his office.

The disruptive tactics have taken a bipartisan tone at times.
Shouting “Birthers,” those denying that President Obama was born in the United States, recently disrupted a meeting hosted by Delaware’s moderate Republican Rep. Mike Castle.

The leaked memo is entitled “Rocking the Town Halls — Best Practices.” It leads off with a bit of background:

“We here in Fairfield County, Connecticut, conducted an action at Congressman Jim Himes’s Town Hall meeting in May 2009. We believe there are some best practices which emerged from the event and our experience, which could be useful to activists in just about any district where their Congressperson has supported the socialist agenda of the Democrat leadership in Washington:

–“Spread out in the hall and try to be the front half. The objective is to put the Rep on the defensive with your questions and followup. The Rep should be made to feel that a majority and, if not, a significant portion of at least the audience opposes the socialist agenda in Washington.”

–“You need to rock-the-boat early in the Rep’s presentation. Watch for an opportunity to yell out and challenge the Rep’s statements early.”

–“The goal is to rattle him, get him off his prepared script and agenda. If he says something outrageous, stand up and shout out and sit right back down. Look for these opportunities before he takes questions.”

Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, who chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee, appeared to give his blessing to these tactics, telling Politico that the time for polite town halls is now “over.”

The communications director for Americans Prosperity and its anti-health reform front Patients United did try to put distance between itself and the controversial memo. The memo was written by a volunteer who frequently posts at a website called Freedom Works, affiliated with Tea Party Patriots.

“Mr. MacGuffie’s memo was his own work,” wrote Amy Menefee of AFP. “I would appreciate your help in correcting the erroneous rumor people have passed around that this memo came from AFP.

“We have encouraged our members to attend town halls, ask questions and register their opinions about issues including health care — as all citizens should do. We always promote civil dialogue and do not condone disruptive behavior.

The House of Representatives has begun its August recess. The Senate will let out later this week, after a Supreme Court confirmation vote.